The 17-year-old had planned to become a nurse and volunteered at a local nursing home. She had registered to become an organ donor when she got her driver's license.

But instead of helping Bebout prepare for her senior year at Heath High School and Career and Technology Education Center, her family packed into a Licking County Juvenile Courtroom Wednesday afternoon.

Bebout was a passenger in a car driven by 17-year-old Kyle Smith on Christmas Eve when Smith lost control and crashed the car. Bebout suffered severe injuries and died on Christmas Day.

Smith had admitted in May to causing the crash and been found delinquent of charges of vehicular manslaughter, possession of marijuana paraphernalia and traffic violations.

Bebout was described by her family members as being a loving person with a giving soul and mature beyond her years.

The maturity led her to make the decision to become an organ donor when she got her driver's license. Less than a year later, her parents made the decision to abide by her wishes.

Bebout's mother, Jenny Cross, said her daughter saved five lives in her passing. It was Bebout's "last act of selflessness."

Bebout's cousin spoke of the family gathering at Grant Medical Center in Columbus, hoping for the best, instead of gathering on Christmas around a tree at one of their homes. Bebout's stepsister said the crash and Bebout's death have forever changed an anticipated holiday.

Cross said her daughter, affectionately called "her tumor," had crawled into her bed on the morning of Christmas Eve to spend a few quality moments with her mother.

"Each day, each hour, each minute that passes, I realize Brooke isn't here," she said.

She told Smith, who stood to listen to each of the five victim impact statements offered, he was the lucky one.

"You get to experience all the things that were ripped out of our future," Cross said.

She talked about graduation ceremonies, weddings and grandchildren she will never meet.

But in Bebout's passing, Cross said she hopes there can be positives. Five people are now living fuller lives with Bebout's organs and a scholarship fund has been created in her memory.

The other driver involved in the crash also spoke at Wednesday's hearing, saying he considered himself lucky to be alive, but will never forget what happened.

Smith's attorney, Brad Koffel, said he will not forget Bebout. He told Strefelt he uses this case to remind his own teenaged children of the dangers of reckless driving.

He told Bebout's family they are the most forgiving family he has dealt with in 25 years of practicing law.

Smith also addressed Bebout's family, crying as he said he was sorry.

"This is still so unreal and I keep waiting for this nightmare to be over," he said. "People keep saying it was just an accident. It wasn't just an accident. I lost control of my car on that night and I caused Brooke's death."

Smith also offered to donate half of his paychecks to the scholarship fund in Bebout's name. Strefelt said he could not order that to be done, but he expected Smith to keep his word as he had given it in court.

Strefelt told Bebout's family there was nothing he could do to fill the void in their lives without her. He said he would have liked to have met Bebout and gotten to know her, but didn't have the chance because she was someone who did the right things and didn't end up in court before him.

"The world's just a little darker without her in it," he said.

Strefelt ordered Smith to pay a $90 fine and all court costs in the case. He also ordered Smith to be on probation for a period of time that could last until his 21st birthday.

Smith was also ordered to undergo court-ordered counseling and his driver's license was suspended for two years, the maximum amount allowed by law.

Strefelt urged Bebout's family to contact their legislators to advocate for increasing the potential license suspension penalties.